view of Holwerd by anne droogsma

Holwerd (Frisian, officially: Holwert, ['holvət]?) is a village in the municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân in the Dutch province of Friesland, and including outlying areas, it had about 1,545 inhabitants in 2023. Until the municipal redivision in 2019, Holwerd was part of the former municipality of Dongeradeel. Before the 1984 Frisian redivision, Holwerd belonged to the former municipality of Westdongeradeel. The village is best known for its ferry service to the wadden island of Ameland and mudflat hiking.

Holwerd lies northwest of Dokkum against the Wadden Sea, between Blija and Ternaard. The village centre is sandwiched between the N356, N357 and N358 roads. On the north side of the village is a small industrial estate.

Old Post and Telegraph Office

Ferry service harbour
Protected village view
Part of Holwerd is a protected village sight, and is therefore part of Friesland's protected town and village areas. Holwerd has a number of national monuments, including the old post and telegraph office from 1810.

History
The village originated on a mound that was inhabited several centuries before the Christian era. In the first half of the 11th century, the place was mentioned as Holeuurt, in 1399 as tot Hoelwerde and Holwerde, in 1486-1487 as to holwert, in 1500 as jn dat holuerde, and in 1505 as Holwerdt. The place name probably indicates that it was an inhabited elevation (uurt->werd) with a pit or depression (hol/hole), possibly because it was located in an outcrop of land, which may or may not have been marshy.

The Holwerder canal was built in the 17th century. In 1872, the Holwerd-Ameland dam was completed. After storms in 1881 and 1882, the dam was not repaired. The first two kilometres were used to build the ferry dam.

Holwerd was in the then municipality of Westdongeradeel until the 1984 municipal redivision. From 1984 to 2019, it was in the municipality of Dongeradeel, after which it merged into the new municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân.